Episode 11 — Ethics and Mandatory Reporting
This episode prepares you to handle high-stakes situations ethically and professionally when you encounter sensitive data, signs of active compromise, or illegal content during authorized work. You’ll learn how ethical principles translate into concrete decisions, such as collecting the minimum evidence necessary, avoiding unnecessary exposure of personal or regulated data, and stopping activity that creates undue risk. We’ll cover what “mandatory reporting” means in practical terms, how escalation paths and engagement rules determine who must be notified and when, and how to document what you observed without spreading harm. You’ll practice scenario-based judgment calls, including discovering credentials in unexpected places, encountering data outside the intended test objective, and recognizing when a finding requires immediate client action due to severity and operational impact. By the end, you’ll be able to choose responses that protect people and systems while still producing defensible findings and recommendations. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.
